Saturday, March 1, 2014

9 Foods That Help You Sleep Well

Are you having trouble falling asleep? Adding these foods to your diet may help to increase your odds of a successful slumber.

The health benefits of a good night’s rest are countless: it helps keep you happy, your brain sharp, your immune system strong, your waistline trim, your skin looking youthful and lowers your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

1. FishMost fish, especially salmon, halibut and tuna, boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness.

2. Jasmine RiceThe greater amounts of insulin triggered by the high-glycemic-index meals increased the ratio of sleep-inducing tryptophan relative to other amino acids in the blood, allowing proportionately more to get into the brain.

3. Tart Cherry JuiceMelatonin-rich tart cherry juice has been shown to aid sleep. Drink a cup of tart cherry juice twice a day for relief of severe insomnia.

4. YogurtDairy products boast healthy doses of calcium, helping to prevent being calcium-deficient, which can make it difficult to fall asleep.

5. Whole GrainsWhole grains are rich in magnesium and consuming too little magnesium may make it harder to stay asleep.

6. KaleGreen leafy vegetables boast healthy doses of calcium too.

7. BananasBananas are well-known for being rich in potassium, they are also a good source of Vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin.

8. ChickpeasChickpeas boast vitamin B6 too, which is needed to make melatonin.

9. Fortified CerealsFortified cereals also boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin.